Press Release: EU and UNICEF boost their partnership to improve child and maternal health and to save more children

The European Union announced on the 4 February 2014 that it had allocated €320m through UNICEF to improve the health and nutrition of children and women in 15 developing countries and to help speed progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Funding would focus on tackling under-nutrition and infectious diseases, which were among the root causes of child mortality. Multi-year programmes would focus on improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as quality medical services, health care and adequate nutrition.

The amount represented a 350% increase in development funding from the European Union to UNICEF since 2008.

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/14/73: EU – UNICEF Partnership http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-73_en.htm

UNICEF: Partners: UNICEF and the European Union http://www.unicef.org/eu/

EurActiv, 05.02.14: EU donates €320 million to UNICEF for child health, nutrition http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/eu-donates-320-unicef-child-heal-news-533287

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